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Inverted left atrial appendage masquerading as a left atrial mass
Suresh Kumaran1, Gladdy George1, A V Varsha1
1Department of Anaesthesia, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia
|April 11, 2017
Summary
An inverted left atrial appendage is a rare cardiac surgery finding that can mimic serious conditions. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography accurately identified this anomaly, preventing misdiagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Post-cardiac surgery complications require accurate diagnostic tools.
- Left atrial appendage (LAA) abnormalities can present diagnostic challenges.
- Distinguishing anatomical variations from pathological findings is crucial in cardiac care.
Observation:
- A rare case of inverted left atrial appendage (LAA) was observed following cardiac surgery.
- The inverted LAA mimicked intracardiac thrombus, mass, or vegetation on initial assessment.
- Intraoperative findings posed a diagnostic dilemma.
Findings:
- Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provided real-time imaging during surgery.
- TEE successfully differentiated the inverted LAA from pathological cardiac masses.
- The anatomical variation was confirmed without invasive procedures.
Implications:
- Accurate intraoperative diagnosis prevents unnecessary interventions and patient anxiety.
- Transesophageal echocardiography is a valuable tool for identifying rare cardiac surgical findings.
- This case highlights the importance of considering anatomical variants in post-operative cardiac assessments.